Art of producing ornamental surfaces



M. E. GATES.

ART 0F PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL SURFACES.

APPL-lcATloN man. APn.2a,192o.

1,399,425. Patented Dec. 6,1921.

'UNITED Vsizafriss PATENT OFFICE.

i MAJOR E. vGATES, OF TERRA GOTTA, ILLINOIS.

'ABT OF PRODUGING ORNAMNTAL SURFCES.'

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MAJOR E. GATES, a citizen of the United States, residingl at Terra Cotta, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Art of Producing Ornamental Surfaces, of which the followinfr is a specification.

y invention relates, more particularly, to the production of speckled, or mottled, surfacings, more particularly, though not exclusively, to surfacings of building structures, as for example walls of suchstruc-` tures, orthe blocks, or the like, of which the building structures are formed, as for eX- ample terra cotta blocks; and my primary object is to produce thedesired ornamental effect of the character stated by, a simple and economical operation.

As a premise to the following description, it may be stated that the` invention contemplates the dischargingagainst a surface to be coated, of any suitable fluid coating material, such as that commonly used for producing speckled, or mottled, surfacings, in the form of, preferably, relatively large bodies, compared with the bodies produced by an atomizing action hereinafter referred to, and with such force that these bodies upon striking the surface become flattened against the surface, adhering thereto and remaining practically quiescent in their flattened condition preliminary to becoming set, as distinguished from running down the surface against which the bodies 'of coating material are discharged. Efforts have been heretofore made to produce a speckled surface by discharging against the object on which the surfacing is to be produced, coating material projected against such body by anatomizing' action only, but such procedure fails to produce the desired effect due primarily to the projecting of the coating material solely by the atomizing fluid and the reduction of the material to very small bodies.- As distinguished from such procedure I cause the coating fluid to be projected against the body to be coated, to produce the speckled, or mottled, eii'ect,jother than solely by the use of gaseous fluid pressure and, by preference, in relatively large bodies, as compared with the relatively ine bodies produced by the atomizing action referred to.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure l shows, by alongitudinal sectional 'specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Dec. 6, 1921.

Application mea April 2s, 1920.A Vserial No. 377,340.

view, a device which may be employed in practising my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view of the device of Fig. 1, with certain parts broken away; and Fig. 3, a.

section taken at the line 3--3 on Fig. l land sure, as for example compressed air, this passage containing at one end a pipe section 7 adapted to be connected at its outer end with any suitable supply of gaseous fluid. The passage 6 at its op-posite end contains a restricted outlet 8 shown as extending at an anglefto the idirection in which the air flows through the main pol'- tion of ithe passage 6. The pipe 9 formingV the outlet at which the coating is dischargedv from the device against the surface to be coated, and which terminates in a nozzle, in practice this pipe being adapted for use with nozzles of different sizes as desired,

is shown as extending crosswise through the passage 6 and through the outlet 8 for the compressed air, from the walls of which latter, the pipe 9 is spaced as shown. The other end of the pipe 9 connects with the end of a iexible tube 10 as for example of common heavy rubber tubing, which leads from a lsuitable source of the coating iuid to be applied to the surface to be coated. The source'of the coating-fluid is not shown but this liuid may either iow to the device or be drawn to the latter by the action of the device as desired. Thus it may be provided in a receptacle arranged either above the device now being described, in which case the oating material would fiow to the device under a head,

or on the same level as the outer end ofthe tube 10,' or below such level, and in the 'two latter instances provision may be made, or not, as desired, for forcing the fluid to the said device. The outer end of the tube l() extends along the top of the partition 5 which latter thereby forms a sup-port` for this tube in the operation of the mechanism, hereinafter described for effecting the discharge4 of the coating material through the tube 10 and pipe 9 in the desired inanner. The mechanism just referred to is formed, mthe particular construction illustrated, witl-l hree presser devices 11, 12 and 13 shown in t' e form of plates which extend transversely of the tube 10 and across the top thereof. The plate 11 is carried by a pair of levers 14 located within the casing 4 and pivoted, each at one end, on a shaft 15 mounted in opposed extensions 16 prop 1n which are located a plurality of rockerarms 20, shown as six in number to correspond with the number of levers 14, 17 and 18 beneath which they are directly positioned, respectively, as shown, these rockerarms being pivoted on a sha-ft 21 secured in the sides of the casing 4, and with their outer extremities connected through the medium of the tension springs 22, with the several levers 14, 17 and 18 directly above` them, each of the rocker-arms 20 being provided with a pin 23 extending upwardly through the spring and adapted to coperate with the under side of the respective one of the levers with which the spr' g, inclosing it, coperates. v Extending through the spaces between the various levers referred to and the rocker-arms- 20, is a shaft 24 journaled at its opposite ends in the sides of the casing 4 and adapted to be driven, as through the worm wheel 25D secured thereon. and meshing with a worm 26 on a shaft 27 driven in any suitable manner (not shown.) The shaft 24 is provided with a plurality of eccentrics, one of which, represented at 25, extends immediately abo-ve the two central rocker-arms 20 connected withthe two levers 18, two of which, represented at 26, extend above the rocker-arms 20 to which the respective levers 17 are connected, and two more of which, represented at 27, extend above the two rocker-arms 20 with which the levers 14 are respectively connected, the two eccentrics 26 occupying the sameangular position on the shaft and the two eccentrics 27 the same angular position, the eccentric 25 and the two sets of eccentrics 26 and 27 occupying different augular positions about the shaft, in the arrangement shown being positioned about the shaft at an angle of 120 to each other. The described arrangement of the eccentrics is such that in their movement, in the rotation of the shaft 24 in anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 1, they will successively operate the several pairs of rocker-arms 20 which, through the described spring-connections with 'the various sets of levers described, cause the presser-devices 13, 12 and 1l to o-perate to close the tube10 at points immediately beneath them, in succession, the arrangement being such that at no time are all of the presser devices, in Ia position in which the tube 10 immediately beneath them, is open, it being understood that the tube 10, by reason of its resiliency, expands as the respective presser-devices rise relative to this tube.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming its parts .to be in the position yshown in the drawing, wherein the presser devices 11 and 12, by reason of the illustrated position of the eccentrics 26 and 27` are in lowermost position in whichthe tube 10 is closed at the portions thereof beneath these presser devices, and the presser device 13 is raised, the continued rotation of the shaft 24 in anti-clockwise direction in Fig. 1 first causes the eccentrics 26 to move against the under sides of the levers 17 and in a direction away from the rockerarms 20 immediately beneath them, thereby lifting these levers to raise the presser foot v12 which permits the tube 10 to expand at this point. During this movement of the eccentrics 26, the eccentric 25 moves into engagement -with the rocker-arms 20 immediately beneath it, with the result of causing these rocker-arms and the levers 18 to lower and by reason of the spring connections between these rocker-arms and levers, force the resser foot 13 against the tube 10 with suiiizient pressure to close the tube at this point, these spring-connections elongating in this operation and the arrangement of the parts being preferably as shown by which the levers 18 move downwardly a slight distance only before the levers 17 have reached their uppermost position.

Further movement ofthe shaft 24 in anticlockwise direction in Fig. 1 operates to move the eccentrics 27 into engagement with the levers 14 immediately above them thereby operating to raise the presser foot 11. In

the continued movement of the shaft 24 the eccentric 25 operates to force the presser foot 12 against the tube 10, while the resserfoot 13 holds the tube 10 closed at t e tion thereof immediately below it, the presser-foot 13 moving to the position shown 1n F ig. 1 after the presser-foot 12 has closed the tube 1'0 beneath the latter. The arrangement of the eccentrics referred to, relative to the presser devices 11,12 and 13 is such, as shown, that at all times one of the presser devices closes the tube 10 and these presser devices are operated in succession'. from the right to the left in Fig. 1, these successive operations ofthe presser feet as stated serving to produce a pulsating action on the fluid 1n the tube 10 thereby to cause it to be intermittently projected through the outlet end` of the pipe 9, where the coating fluid is supplied to the presser deporf vices through the tube 10 by pressure produced by gravity llow or otherwise; the operation of the presser devices vserving to control the discharge of the fluid through the pipe 9 and causing it to spurt from the outet of the latter by an intermittent action causing the fluid to issuefrom this pipe in separated bodies of relatively large size, depending upon the dimensions of the various parts, as compared with the size of the bodies resulting from the subjection of such fluid to an atomizing action. Where the supply of coating fluid is not supplied to the presser devices under pressure,`as for`eX- ample where it is located in a tank below the presser devices and does not flow thereto under pressure, the devicel operates to cause the fluid to flow to the device and forces it out through the pipe 9 as stated. In the case of the use of the device with a supply of coating fluid under conditions requiring the drawing of the coating fluid to the presser devices, as stated, the result above explained is due to the operation of the presser devices 11, 12 and 13 in succession and in the timed relation as stated, due to the fact thatl in the operation of these presser devices they are operated in succession from a position in which the tube 10 is closed to a position in which this tube is open, from the right hand toward the left hand of the series in Fig. 1, thereby forcing the fluid along the tube 10 to the left in this ligure and. in such operation producing, by the eX- panding of the tube 10 to normalv condition, after being contracted, the reduction in fluid pressure at this point, which operates to cause the fluid to flow to the left through the tube 10. lVhile under some conditionsv the discharge of the coating material from the pipe 9 by the action of the presser devices alone, may be sufficient to effect the delivery to 'the surface to be coated, of the bodies of coating material of the desired size and in the desired flattened condition against the surface, it is preferred that there be associated with the coating fluid any suitable gaseous fluid under pressure, as for eX- ample, and by preference, compressed air, which is caused to flow in the direction of movement of the coating fluid and in enveloping relation thereto and preferably at a greater velocity than that at which the coating fluid moves in the pipe 9, the primary purpose being to present between the bodies of coating'fluid and the atmosphere, in the movement of the stream of separated bodies of the coating fluid, from the. device to the object to be coated, a protecting envelop wherebyJ the breaking up of these bodies into relatively finely divided condition, by the propulsion thereof against the resistance of the air, as would coeur if such shielding means were-not provided, is avoided. Where conditions are such that it is desirable, or necessary, that the coating fluid as it issues from the pipe 9, as stated, be subjected to an accelerating action, the fluidpressure discharged through the passage 6 may be under such pressure that it will operate on the separated bodies of coating fluid to acceleratetheir movement toward the object to which they are' to be applied, this accelerating action being in the nature of a boosting action. In accordance 'with the preferred manner of practising my invention, such boosting fluid-pressure is applied adjacent the outlet of the pipe 9 and such use thereof as to break up the separated bodies of coating fluid as they issue from the pipe 9, into such small bodies as are produced when a stream of fluid is subjected to an atomizing action, is to be avoided. However, `it is within my invention, to provide such a pressure and flow of fluid-pressure that the bodies of coating material delivered by the `pulsating actions of the device through the outlet 9, are reduced to finely divided condition resembling those produced by an Y atomizing action, the device in 4so operating presenting an advantage over the use' of an atomizing action alone, in that the fluid is Vpropelled through the outlet by a force which alone would cause the fluid to be spurted from the device toward the object against which it is to be applied.

It will be understood that in the operation of the device described the flow of the coating fluid to the discharge of the device is accurately measured an such measuring caused to be maintained throughout the continued operation of the device, whereby the substantially uniform mottled or speckled surfacing effect may be produced.

It may be further stated that'where the device is so operated as to cause the bodies of coating fluid as they issueby the intermittent action referred to, to be broken up into bodies of smaller size, the bodies are caused to become grouped'on the surface against which they are projected thereby producing a surfacing effect peculiar to such action and renderin the mottled' appearance produced discernib e from a considerable distance.

Furthermore, inasmuch as' one of the phases of my invention consistsin thesubjection of the coating fluid to gaseous fluid dimensions of theparts of the device, and the pressure of the gaseous fluid, the size of the bodies delivered to the object to which they are to be applied may be varied, the bodies of the coating material striking such object with sufficient force to flatten thereon and in such condition, without running become'set thereon.

While I have illustrated and described certain Ways of carrying out my invention and have illustrated and described a particular construction suitable for practising it, I do not Wish to be understood as intending to limit the invention thereto, as my improved method may be practised in other Ways than the specific way described, and by the use of other apparatus.

By Way of further example of the practising of my inventiomby other structures than those illustrated it may be stated that under some conditions of use, where the fluid is supplied to the flexible conduit under pressure, less than the number of presser devices shoWn, mayv be employed, even to the extent of employing only one which would operate to alternately open and close the conduit to the flow of fluid therethrough thereby producing an intermittent discharge of the fluid through the conduit.

What I claim as new and desire toy secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In the art of coating surfaces, the method Which consists in causing the'coating fluid to be projected intermittently through the outlet end of a conduit to cause discharge of the fluid therefrom in separated bodies of a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the outlet and delivering the coating fluid against the object to which it is to be applied, with sufficient force to cause it to flatten against the object.

2. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently through the outlet end of a conduit to cause discharge of the fluid therefrom in separated bodies and causing a flow of gaseous fluid substantially in the direction of movement of the bodies of' coating fluid and in enveloping relation, 'the coating fluid being delivered against the object to which it is to be applied, With sufficient force to cause it to flatten against the object.

3. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently through the outlet end of a conduit to cause discharge of the fluid therefrom in separated bodies and causing aflovv of gaseous fluid substantially in the direction of the movement of the bodies of coating fluid and in enveloping re. lation thereto and at a velocity greater than the speed of movement of the coating fluid as it leaves said conduit.

4. In the art of coating surfaces, the

method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently through the outlet end of a conduit to cause discharge of the fluid therefrom in separated bodies of a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the outlet and causing a flo'W of gaseous fluid substantially in the direction of movement of the bodies of coating fluid and in enveloping relation thereto, the coating fluid being delivered against the object to Which it is to be applied, with sufficient force to cause it to flatten against the object.

5. In the art of I,coating surfaces, the method Which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently through the'outlet end of a conduit to cause discharge of the fluid therefrom in separated bodies of a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the outlet and causing a flow of gaseous fluid substantially in the direction of movement of the bodies of coating fluid and in enveloping -relation thereto, and at a velocity greater than the speed of movement of the coating fluid as it leaves said conduit.

6. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causi the coating fluid to be projected in the for of a stream of connected particles, intermittently through the outlet end of a conduit to cause discharge of fluid therefrom in separated bodies and delivering the coating fluid against the object to which it is to be applied, with sufficient force to cause it to flatten against the object.

7. In' the art of coating surfaces, the

method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected in the form of a stream of connected particles, intermittently through the outlet end ofy a conduit to cause discharge of fluid therefrom in separatedl bodies and causing a flow of gaseous fluid substantially in the direction of movement of the bodies vof coating fluid and in enveloping relation thereto, the coating fluid being delivered against the object towhich it is to be applied With sufficient force to cause it to Hatten against the object.

8. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently through the outlet end of a conduit to cause -discharge of the fluid therefrom in separated bodies and directing gaseous fluid against the bodies of coating material in the direction of movement of such bodies, the coating material being delivered against the object to which it is to be applied, with sufficient force to cause it to flatten against the object.

9. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which -consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently through the outlet end of a, conduit to cause discharge of the iiuidV therefrom in separated bodies and causing gaseousfluid to flow into enveloping relation to the bodies of coatin fluid at a point adjacent the outlet end o said condult and substantially in the direction of movement of said bodies.

10. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently through the outlet end of a vconduitto cause discharge of the fluid therefrom in separated bodies of' a cross-sectional area substantial-ly equal to the cross-'sectional area of the outlet and causing gaseous fluid to flow into enveloping relation to the bodies of' coating fluid at a point adjacent the outlet end of said conduit and substantially in the direction 'of movement of said bodies.

11. In the art of coating surfaces,'1the method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected 'in theform of a stream of connected particles, intermittently through the outlet end of a conduit to cause discharge of fluid therefrom in separated bodies, and causing gaseous fluid.

to lflow into enveloping relation to the bodies of coating fluid-at apoi-nt adjacent theoutlet end of said conduit and; substantially in the direction of movement of said bodies.

12. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently along a conduit through which the fluid discharges against the` object to which the fluid is t'o be applied and subjecting the fluid so projected to gaseous fluid under pressure directed against the coating fluid substantially in the direction of movement of the coating fluid and beyond the point at which the force projecting the coating fluid as stated, is applied.

13. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be intermittently advanced along a conduit in a stream of connected bodies, and through which conduit the fluid discharges against the object to which the fluid is to be applied and subjecting the fluid so' projected to gaseous fluid under pressure directed against the coating fluid substantially in the direction of movement of the coating iiuid and beyond the point at which the force projecting the. coating fluid as stated, is applied. v

14. In the art of coating surfaces, the

' method which consists in causing the coating fluid to projected intermittently through the outlet end ofa conduit tocause discharge of the fluid therefrom in separated bodies and causing said bodies'to be'- come separated into smaller bodies.

15. In the art` of coating surfaces, themethod which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently through the outlet. end of a conduit to cause discharge of the fluid therefrom in separated bodies and blowing said bodies into separated condition by subjecting the bodies to directed fluid to be projected in the form -A of stream of connectedparticles, intermittently through the outlet end of a conduit, to cause discharge of fluid therefrom in separated bodies and causing said bodies to become separated into smaller bodies.

17. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in, causing the coating fluid to be projected in the form of a stream of connected particles, intermittently through the outlet en d of a conduit, to cause discharge of fluid therefrom in separated bodies and blowing said bodies into separated condition by subjecting the bodies to gaseous fluid under pressure directed against said bodiesy substantially in the direction of movement of said bodies. v

18. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in `causing1 the coating fluid to be-projected intermittently along a corduit through which thefluid discharges against the object to which the fluid is to be applied `and causing the portions of the fluid as .they reach a certain point in their.

travel to become separated into smaller bodies.V .v y

19.` In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causing the coating fluid `to be projected intermittently along a conduit through which 'the fluid discharges against the object to .which the fluid is to be applied. and 'subjecting the fluid when it is projected to a certain point to gaseous fluid under pressure for blowing successive portions of this fluid into separated bodies. l

20. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which cor'sists in causing fluid to flow by a measured lintermittent movement through a conduit through the outlet end of which the fluid discharges, and subjecting the Huid so moved to gaseous fluid under pressure directed against it substantially in the direction of flow of the fluid.

21. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causing fluid to liow intermittently along a conduit and separating successive portions of the fluid into smaller bodies.

22. In the art of coating surfaces, the method'which consists incausing thev coatin fluid to be projected intermittently through the outlet end of a conduit to cause discharge of the fluid therefrom in separated bodies unsupported beyond the outlet and causing said unsupported bodies to become separated into smaller bodies.

23. In the art of coating surfaces, the method Which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently along a conduit through which the fluid discharges against the object to which the fluid is to be applied and causing the portions of the fluid as they reacha certain point in their travel and in unsupported condition to become separated into smaller bodies.

24. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently along a conduit through which the fluid discharges against the object to which the fluid is to be applied and subjecting the fluid when it is projected to a certain point and in unsupported condition to gaseous fluid under pressure for blowing successive portions of this fluid into separated bodies.

25. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists injcausing,the coating fluid `to be projected intermittently along a conduit through which the fluid discharges against the object to which the fluid is to be applied and in unsupported condition` from the outlet of said conduit to said object and causing the portions of the fluid as they reach a certain point in their travel to become separated into smaller bodies.

. 26. In the art of coating surfaces, the method which consists in causing the coating fluid to be projected intermittently along a conduit through which the fluid disi charges against the object to Which the fluid is to be applied and in unsupported condition from the outlet of said conduit to sai object and causing the portions of the flui as they reach a certain point in their trav( tobecome subjected to gaseous fluid unde pressure for blowing said portions int smaller bodies.

27. In the art of coating surfaces, th method Which consists in causing the coat ing fluid to be projected intermittently b; pressure through the surrounding outlet of conduit to cause discharge of thefluid there from in separated bodies and causing sai bodies to become separated into smalle bodies. i

28. In the art of coating surfaces, th method which consists in causing the coat ing fluid to discharge from a conduit to Ward the object to be coated, With such forel that it would flatten against the object t( be coated if unimpeded by the resistance oi the atmosphere, and causing gaseous fluid tc flow substantially in the direction of movement of the fluid issuing from the conduit and in such relation to the first-referredtc fluid and under such pressure as to substantially reduce the resistance of the atmosphere to the travel of the coating fluid to the surface to be coated.

29. In the art of coating surfaces, the method Which consists.in causing fluid to flow intermittently along the conduit and separating successive portions of the fluid in unsupported condition into smaller bodies.

MAJOR E. GATES. 

